Triple Crown Winners

American Pharoah (2015)

American Pharoah led all the way in winning the Belmont Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths, becoming the first horse since 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes--one of the sporting world's rarest feats.

Advertisement

2 of 12Jerry Cooke for Sports Illustrated

Affirmed (1978)

The great-great grandson of Triple Crown winner War Admiral, Affirmed battled with Alydar in all three races, beating his rival by 1 1/2 lengths in the Derby, a neck in the Preakness, and a nose in the Belmont.

3 of 12Heinz Kluetmeier for Sports Illustrated

Seattle Slew (1977)

Seattle Slew was the first to win the Triple Crown with an undefeated record, and was the last living Triple Crown winner when he died in 2002.

Advertisement

4 of 12Neil Leifer for Sports Illustrated

Secretariat (1973)

The first athlete to appear on the cover of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated in the same week, Secretariat ran the fastest Kentucky Derby ever and won the Belmont Stakes by a record 31 lengths to break a 25-year drought of Triple Crown winners, the longest before the current 35-year streak.

Advertisement

5 of 12AP

Citation (1948)

Eddie Arcaro became the first and only jockey to win two Triple Crowns (he won in 1941 with Whirlaway) after winning all three races by more than three lengths and tying the then-Belmont Stakes record of 2:28.2.

Advertisement

6 of 12AP

Assault (1946)

Despite a deformed right hoof and noticeable limp, earning him the nickname "The Clubfooted Comet," Assault came from five lengths back in the stretch to win the Belmont, and the Triple Crown, by three lengths.

Advertisement

7 of 12AP

Count Fleet (1943)

Count Fleet was known for blowing away his competition and winning with ease, including a track record 25 lengths victory at the Belmont.

Advertisement

8 of 12AP

Whirlaway (1941)

Known for his dramatic victories, Whirlaway began races slowly, but finished with sudden outbursts of speed, shocking spectators in all three of the Triple Crown races and eventually finishing with more than $500,000 in career winnings.

Advertisement

9 of 12AP

War Admiral (1937)

War Admiral, son of what many consider the greatest Thoroughbred racehorse of all time, Man o' War, won an impressive 21 of 26 starts, just behind rival Seabiscuit.

Advertisement

10 of 12NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Omaha (1935)

Although he only won one race as a two-year old, the son of Gallant Fox lived up to expectations the following year.

Advertisement

11 of 12AP

Gallant Fox (1930)

French-bred Gallant Fox became the second U.S. Triple Crown winner and first to sire a second generation Triple Crown champion, Omaha, ultimately leading to an increased popularity of European racehorses.

Advertisement

12 of 12AP

Sir Barton (1919)

Ridden by Johnny Loftus, Sir Barton was the first to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year. The formal name of Triple Crown wasn't used until 1930.

You May Like

More More Sports

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Don't get stuck on the sidelines! Sign up to get exclusives, daily highlights, analysis and more—delivered right to your inbox!